440 Chrysler Valve train in Caddy 500

[ken1949car]

Hey guys, new member here. I been following your site for several weeks since my son moved to Birmingham and took his first airboat ride a few weeks ago in Mississippi. He loved it and told me we (I) have to build one!
Well I just happen to have 2- 1976 Cadillac 500's in the garage. I bought them in 2006 and oh well, life gets in the way.

My concern is the Cadillac valve train. It seems to be a weak point in the warmed over Caddy. My son has heard that the 400 Chrysler valve train can be tweaked to fit. Any truth to that?
If not, what is the preferred upgrade over factory.

Thanks for letting me join and hope everyone has a good day!

 

[One Eyed Gator]

If you're going to run it as a DD then the stock valve train will work.

If you are going to run a gearbox then a better valve train is necessary, not sure about the 440 valvetrain swap. I do know that to it does get expensive to build a caddy to hold together much over 4,000.

I ran a 472 DD for 8 yrs or so as a DD it was a great fishing boat and with a 14' hull would run some dry but put it in a bind and you were struck.

Please do not take this wrong as I love a caddy, but if you are going to build a gearbox boat then I would start with an LS/Vortec engine.

I swapped to a 600.00 5.3 put a carb on it and 2:1 gearbox, it ran way better than my DD.

Good luck

 

[ken1949car]

Thanks for the reply!
After researching the performance options for the Caddy, the LS motors are probably best.
But I haven't given up on the 500 yet.

Have a good day!

 

[pontoon outlaw]

Hey guys, new member here. I been following your site for several weeks since my son moved to Birmingham and took his first airboat ride a few weeks ago in Mississippi. He loved it and told me we (I) have to build one!
Well I just happen to have 2- 1976 Cadillac 500's in the garage. I bought them in 2006 and oh well, life gets in the way.

My concern is the Cadillac valve train. It seems to be a weak point in the warmed over Caddy. My son has heard that the 400 Chrysler valve train can be tweaked to fit. Any truth to that?
If not, what is the preferred upgrade over factory.

Thanks for letting me join and hope everyone has a good day!

I run a Cad 507 with a Gear Box built by the best in the business may he RIP he built mine 12 years ago.. and its a beast not sure whats in it LOL but I know it runs like a raped ape and back then it was 8500 dollars for the turn key Motor.. Id have to check my build sheet from back then to see what he put in it ..

 

[EastBay]

Hello
LS engines are good as long as they are not from Pleasure Craft Marine.
Enough said.
Thank you.

 

[ken1949car]

Hello
LS engines are good as long as they are not from Pleasure Craft Marine.
Enough said.
Thank you.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[ken1949car]

I run a Cad 507 with a Gear Box built by the best in the business may he RIP he built mine 12 years ago.. and its a beast not sure whats in it LOL but I know it runs like a raped ape and back then it was 8500 dollars for the turn key Motor.. Id have to check my build sheet from back then to see what he put in it ..

If you get a chance, that would be great!
Thanks!

 

[One Eyed Gator]

FYI It is hard to find quality performance parts for a caddy.

I believe you need an adapter to run a gearbox unless it's a Robert's A/C style gearbox. Caddy is a BOP Bellhousing bolt pattern.